759. JOHN HACKETT TO WOLSEY.
Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, iv, no. 3132.
Basow/ May 2^ 1527.
John Hackett was at this time the king's minister at the court of Margaret, Regent of the Netherlands. On November 17, 1526, he had delivered to her a letter from Henry requesting the suppression of English Protestants at Antwerp. The city, however, refused, as re- lated below. Hackett continued his activities against Tyndale and Roy, and his efforts to seize their translations of the Bible. W, Tyn- dale's Doctrinal Treatises, ed. Parker Society, 1848, pp. xxxiiff.
Has received no letters from him since he wrote last on the 3rd inst. Was told at Machlyng, on the 21st, that, notwith- standing the corrections that have been done, some Antwerp printers have brought to the market here divers English books, intitled the Ny[we] Testament. Has come hither to see pun- ishment executed. Has found twenty- four in one [mann]ys hand. Is seeking for more, and trusts shortly to see them burned. The marquis of Antwerp* and the drossart of Berghes* daily ask for a certification from England of par- ticular articles of heresy, without which they can make no corporal punishment on the printers. Hears that at the last Fran[kfurt] fair there were more than 2000 such English books; but there they favor Luther and leave all good old customs. Hears that some English disciples of Luther are banning to translate the Bible into English. The King or Wolsey had better write to my lady * about it.
There is great danger in these Low Countries. Two out of three keep Luther's opinions. Is told there are many in England, but they dare not declare themselves. Has caused the deputy of our nation here to make a congregation of all the English people here, and read the King's letter to them. He has also issued an order that none of them shall buy, nor sell, nor read such like books, and those that have any must bring them to the deputy before next Sunday.
^Probably Bniges, Plemisb Brugge.
- The "schout" or imperial officer at Antwerp also bore the title of "marcgrave
ens lants van Ryen." At this time he was Nicholas van Liere, who died 1531. Kalkoff: Anfinge der Gegenreformation in den NiederlSnden, ii, 10, 88.
- Roland van Berchem, who was also a "schout" or bailiff at Antwerp, ibid, index.
There were numerous other "lords of Berghen," so I cannot be sure which one is meant.
« Margaret, sister of Charles V and Regent of the Netherlands.
�� �
